Self-expanding shell for engagement in mine roof

ABSTRACT

A self-expanding shell for engagement in a mine roof including a lower tubular section connected to a mine roof bolt, an upper resilient and expandable portion embodying a plurality of like, inherently resilient segments which, when expanded form a coneshape member, the upper terminals of selected segments being extended to provide hook members, and a restraining member for holding the segments in overlapped, compressed condition, until inserted in a mine roof opening, the restraining member including a tubular member having a series of openings adapted to receive and hold the hook member, and a pin engageable with the tubular member for preventing accidental disengagement of the segment hook members from the tubular member.

i United States Patent Inventor Claude C. White 3912 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, Ala. 35243 Appl. No. 813,656 Filed Apr. 4, 1969 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 SELF-EXPANDING SHELL FOR ENGAGEMENT IN MINE ROOF 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

3,104,582 9/1963 White ABSTRACT: A self-expanding shell for engagement in a mine roof including a lower tubular section connected to a mine roof bolt, an upper resilient and expandable portion embodying a plurality of like, inherently resilientvsegments which, when expanded form a cone-shape member, the upper terminals of selected segments being extended to provide hook members, and a restraining member for holding the segments in overlapped, compressed condition, until inserted in a mine roof opening, the restraining member including a tubular member having a series of openings adapted to receive and hold the hook member, and a pin engageable with the tubular member for preventing accidental disengagement of the segment hook members from the tubular member.

PATENTED JAM 9 1911 I 3555960 Qsuen 2 or 2 INVENTOR Claude 6. White BY W WM ATTORNE'YE SELF-EXPANDING snsu. ron ENGAGEMENT IN MINE both vertically and horizontally, to exert gripping forces on the mine roof and prevent any relative movement of the components of the mine root" under stres'sjfromtensions applied to g the bolt. t

Another object is to provide a self-expanding shell of the character described wherein the shell includesa plurality of like, inherently resilient segments, which segments are normally held in compressed, overlapped'condition by a restraining member, for ready insertion of the shell in a mine roof opening, the restraining member being disengaged from the segments uponfull insertion of the shell into the opening to permit expansion of the segments toform a cone-shape member engageable with the mine roof.

A still further object is to. provide a self-expanding shell wherein selected segments of the shell are provided with hook-like extensions for interengagement with the restraining member, the restraining member being moved longitudinally which extensions arethen bent inwardly ol the shell as in- 'dic'ated at 36. The inward extension of portion 36 is then bent downwardly to provide a hook member 38.

It is further within the contemplation of the present inven tion to provide a restraining member 40 for holding segments 32 of the shell in overlapped, compressed relationship to each other while it is being inserted into the mine roof opening. Restraining member 40 includes a generally tubular member which is square in cross section, and is provided with like faces 42 near the lower terminal of each of which is a substantially square window or opening 44. The height of each window or opening 44 is slightly greater then the length of hook member 38, in order to allow passage of segment hook members 38 through window 44 of the restraining member prior to insertion in the mine roof opening, and passage thereof back through window 44 when the shell is-fully'inserted into the mine roof opening.

' In order to prevent accidental disengagement'of hook members 38 of segments 32 from restraining member 40, a cotter pin 46 is passed through opposed windows 44 of the restraining member between the upper limit of the window and opof the shell upon full insertioninto the mine roof opening. to

permit disengagement of the hoo'k-likeextensions ot the segments from the restraining member and consequent expansion of the segments under the inherent resiliency of those memers. 1 a w t Other objects will be manifest from the following description of the presently preferred form of. the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF DRAWINGS FIG; 1 is an elevational view of the'shell of the present invention prior to insertion in the mine roof opening;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the shell fully inserted .into the mine roof opening and just prior to disengagement of the restraining member from the shell;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the seg ments of the shell in fully expanded operative position in the mine roof opening;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the shell of the present invention in fully extended position;- Q

FIG. 5 is a topplan view of the sheliot" the present invention showing thesegments thereof in overlapped, compressed condition;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is aperspective view of the restraining member forming a part of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The shell of the present invention is adapted for insertion in a mine roof opening which comprisesa'unitormly bored portion which may be reamed out by any suitable tool, the upper portion ot which bore is enlarged at 22 to form aconieal opening, above which the size of the boreis reduced at 24 to approximately the size of bore 20.

The shell of the present invention includes a tubular section 26,.the lower terminal of which is internally threaded for engagement with the threaded terminal of a roof bolt 28. The upper portion 'of tubular section 26 issues into a plurality of reduced neck portions 30 the upper terminals of which are enlarged to provide elongated segments'32 which are otinherently resilient construction. The segments are so constructed and of such sliape that when in the fully expanded position, illustrated to advantage in FIGS. 3 and 5, the segments lie in contiguous relationship to each other and form an I upper section of substantially truncated cone-shape. The upper terminals of alternate segments 32 are reduced and extended upwardly as indicated-at 34, the terminals of posed portions 36 of the segments, which positively precludes passage of hook members 38 through window openings 44.

It will also be noted from a consideration of FIG. 2 that restraining member 40 is of a predetermined length to effect impingement of the upper limit thereof against the upper limit of the mine roof defining the mine roof opening, to effect relative longitudinal movement of the shell with respect to restraining member 40. This effects alignment of hook members 36 with windows 44 and, under theinherent resilience of segments 32 in an outward direction, the segments will flex outwardly to form a cone-shape member complementing the shape of the conical portion 22 of the mine roof opening for gripping engagement with the mine roof.

OIERATION In use of the device of the present invention, the shell is shipped and stored in the overlapped, compressed condition shown in FIG. 1 with the segments having hook-like members being external of the remaining segments. Just prior to insertion of the shell in mine roof opening20, cotter pin 46 is removed. thereby permitting free passage of the shell upwardly through opening 20 into enlarged conical opening 22. Upward movement of the shell is continued until restraining member 40 abuts the upper limit of the opening 24. At this time the segments 32 are still retained in the overlapped, compressed position shown in FIG. 2, with hook members 38 located-interiorly of the restraining member and engaged with 7 the shell is in fully seated position in gripping engagement with the mine root..Atter this occurs, restraining member 40 gravitates downwardly through the shell into lower tubular portion 26, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3.

The shell of the present invention may be made of any suitable material, a high carbon heat treated steel having been found to give optimum resultsAlso, the number of segments 32 of the shell may be varied, although a shell consisting of eight segments, has proven to work in a highly satisfactory manner.

I claim:

1. A self-expanding shell a mine roof opening, the shell including:

a. a lower fixed portion connected to the mine roof bolt;

b. an upper resilient portion issuing from said lower portion;

for engagement with a roof bolt in c. said upper resilient portion embodying a plurality of seg ments;

d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower fixed portion to form a substantially conical member;

e. the upper terminals of a plurality of said segments being provided with extensions;

f. a restraining member engageable with the extensions of the segments when the segments are compressed, for preventing flexing oi" the segments prior to insertion in a mine roofopening;

g. said restraining member including a generally tubular member having a plurality of walls;

h. a window in each of said walls;

i. each said window receiving a portion ofone of said exten sions;

j. a portion ofeach of said extensions engaging an inner wall of said tubular member for maintaining said segments in compressed condition; and

k. means for disengaging said extensions from said tubular member after the shell is placed in the mine roof opening.

2. The self-expanding shell of claim 1, with the addition of:

a. means for preventing accidental disengagement of said restraining member from said segments.

3. A self-expanding shell for engagement with a roof bolt in a mine roof opening, the shell including:

a. a lower fixed portion connected to the mine roof bolt;

b. an upper inherently resilient portion issuing from said lower portion;

c. said upper resilient portion embodying a plurality ofclongated segments;

d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower fixed portion to form a substantially conical member;

e. inwardly and downwardly directed hook-like members extending from the upper limits of a plurality of said segments;

f. a restraining member interposed between said hook-like members ofthe segments; and

g. said restraining member being provided with means for engaging and holding said hook-like members when the segments are compressed inwardly of the shell against the inherent resiliency thereof.

4. The selflexpanding shell of claim 3, with the addition of:

a. means engageable with said hook-like members and restraining member for preventing accidental disengagement thereof.

5. A self-expanding shell for engagement with a roof bolt in a mine roof opening, the shell including:

a. a lower tubular section engaged with a terminal of the roof bolt;

b. an upper resilient section issuing from said lower section;

c. said upper resilient section comprising a plurality oflike, elongated segments extending upwardly from said lower section;

d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower tubular section;

e. the upper terminals of a plurality of said segments being provided with upwardly and inwardly directed extensions;

f. hooks projecting downwardly from the inner limits of said extensions;

g. a restraining member engaged with said hooks when said segments are compressed against the inherent resilience thereof, for insertion of the shell into a mine roof openmg;

h. said restraining member being of tubular construction and embodying a plurality of walls;

i. a window in each of said walls through each of which one of said hooks passes; and

j. the restraining member further including removable means for holding said hooks within said tubular restraining member.

6. The self-expanding shell ofclaim 5, wherein:

a. at least two windows of said walls are in opposed relationship to each other, and b. a pin removably inserted through opposed windows of the restraining member between the upper limit of the windows and the upper limits of said segment extensions for retaining said hooks in engagement with the inner walls of said restraining member beneath the windows.

7. The self-expanding shell of claim 6, wherein:

a. the height and width of said windows is slightly larger than the height and width of said hooks.

8. The self-expanding shell ofclaim 7, wherein a. alternate segments are provided with extensions;

b. said alternate segments lying externally of the segments having no extensions, when the segments are compressed into overlapping relationship. 

1. A self-expanding shell for engagement with a roof bolt in a mine roof opening, the shell including: a. a lower fixed portion connected to the mine roof bolt; b. an upper resilient portion issuing from said lower portion; c. said upper resilient portion embodying a plurality of segments; d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower fixed portion to form a substantially conical member; e. the upper terminals of a plurality of said segments being provided with extensions; f. a restraining member engageable with the extensions of the segments when the segments are compressed, for preventing flexing of the segments prior to insertion in a mine roof opening; g. said restraining member including a generally tubular member having a plurality of walls; h. a window in each of said walls; i. each said window receiving a portion of one of said extensions; j. a portion of each of said extensions engaging an inner wall of said tubular member for maintaining said segments in compressed condition; and k. means for disengaging said extensions from said tubular member after the shell is placed in the mine roof opening.
 2. The self-expanding shell of claim 1, with the addition of: a. means for preventing accidental disengagement of said restraining member from said segments.
 3. A self-expanding shell for engagement with a roof bolt in a mine roof opening, the shell including: a. a lower fixed portion connected to the mine roof bolt; b. an upper inherently resilient portion issuing from said lower portion; c. said upper resilient portion embodying a plurality of elongated segments; d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower fixed portion to form a substantially conical member; e. inwardly and downwardly directed hook-like members extending from the upper limits of a plurality of said segments; f. a restraining member interposed between said hook-like members of the segments; and g. said restraining member being provided with means for engaging and holding said hook-like members when the segments are compressed inwardly of the shell against the inherent resiliency thereof.
 4. The self-expanding shell of claim 3, with the addition of: a. means engageable with said hook-like members and restraining member for preventing accidental disengagement thereof.
 5. A self-expanding shell for engagement with a roof bolt in a mine roof opening, the shell including: a. a lower tubular section engaged with a terminal of the roof bolt; b. an upper resilient section issuing from said lower section; c. said upper resilient section comprising a plurality of like, elongated segments extending upwardly from said lower section; d. said segments being flexed outwardly from said lower tubular section; e. the upper terminals of a plurality of said segments being provided with upwardly and inwardly directed extensions; f. hooks projecting downwardly from the inner limits of said extensions; g. a restraining member engaged with said hooks when said segments are compressed against the inherent resilience thereof, for insertion of the shell into a mine roof opening; h. said restraining member being of tubular construction and embodying a plurality of walls; i. a window in each of said walls through each of which one of said hooks passes; and j. the restraining member further including removable means for holding said hooks within said tubular restraining member.
 6. The self-expanding shell of claim 5, wherein: a. at least two windows of said walls are in opposed relationship to each other, and b. a pin removably inserted through opposed windows of the restraining member between the upper limit of the windows and the upper limits of said segment extensions for retaining said hooks in engagement with the inner walls of said restraining member beneath the windows.
 7. The self-expanding shell of claim 6, wherein: a. the height and width of said windows is slightly larger than the height and width of said hooks.
 8. The self-expanding shell of claim 7, wherein a. alternate segments are provided with extensions; b. said alternate segments lying externally of the segments having no extensions, when the segments are compressed into overlapping relationship. 